From the Universal Studios vaults come five digitally remastered classic horror movies featuring madmen, fiends, murder and mayhem, many never released to home video and available only from TCM.com. These often overlooked cult horror movie titles represent Universal doing what they did best in the 30's and 40's - creating atmospheric and chilling B-Movie entertainment from a studio synonymous with horror cinema.

MURDERS AT THE ZOO (1933)Millionaire Eric Gorman is a zoologist/hunter who has created his own private menagerie of wild beasts from his safaris. He is also insanely jealous and uses his dangerous pets to dispose of any potential romantic rival for his wife or anyone that displeases him. Made before the Production Code was enforced, MURDERS IN THE ZOO (1933) is a grisly and perverse Pre-Code horror thriller that was quite shocking for its time. The movie is dominated by Lionel Atwill’s superb performance as the sadistic zoo owner and features stunning cinematography by seven-time Oscar® nominee Ernest Haller. The supporting cast includes Charlie Ruggles (Bringing Up Baby, 1938), Kathleen Burke (Island of Lost Souls, 1932), a young Randolph Scott and the future Governor of Connecticut, John Lodge.

THE MAD GHOUL (1934)When Dr. Morris experiments with a poisonous gas first used by the ancient Mayans in their sacrificial rites, he discovers that it produces a “death in life” state in the subject. It also has severe, irreversible side effects of advanced decomposition that can only be temporarily halted by a potent mixture of herbs and fresh human hearts. Grave-robbing, corpse desecration, murder and total madness follow. Despite the grisly title, THE MAD GHOUL (1943) is a visually stylish thriller with a quintessential mad doctor performance by George Zucco and memorable roles for David Bruce as the title character and forties “Scream Queen” Evelyn Ankers.

THE MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET (1942)When Dr. Benson’s experiments in suspended animation result in a man’s death, he is forced to flee San Francisco with the police in hot pursuit. He boards a luxury liner to Australia but a shipwreck lands him and a handful of survivors on a remote tropical island. The island natives are NOT very welcoming until Dr. Benson demonstrates his godlike powers by reviving the comatose wife of the island chief. Now worshipped as a deity, the doctor’s ego rages out of control as he begins to focus on his master plan: “Just as the natives worship me, so will the whole world.” An ideal showcase for horror star Lionel Atwill, THE MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET is also notable as an early effort by cult director Joseph H. Lewis (The Big Combo, 1955).

THE STRANGE CASE OF DOCTOR RX (1942)A mysterious vigilante known as “Dr. Rx” strikes again, leaving his calling card behind as evidence. All of his victims have been crooks who have escaped prosecution through legal loopholes and his hit list keeps growing. Assigned to the case is private detective Jerry Church (Patric Knowles) but the crimes are baffling and involve death by strangulation and a possible attempt to implant a gorilla’s brain into a human body. THE STRANGE CASE OF DOCTOR RX is an offbeat horror-comedy film starring Lionel Atwill, veteran of such macabre classics as Doctor X (1932) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), and featuring Shemp Howard (of The Three Stooges) as a bumbling police sergeant.

HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946)Poor Marcel, a struggling sculptor, can’t get any respect - or paid work. After a particularly devastating critique by a famous art critic, Marcel walks to the waterfront, intent on suicide. Instead, he ends up rescuing a man who is drowning and drags him to safety. The would-be victim is a large, hulking brute with hideous features who is wanted by the police. Known as “The Creeper,” he’s a serial killer of prostitutes, and becomes Marcel’s grateful assistant and instrument of revenge. HOUSE OF HORRORS is an atmospheric B-movie delight with familiar screen heavy Martin Kosleck (The Flesh Eaters, 1964) as the demented Marcel and Rondo Hatton, an actor who needed no makeup, as “The Creeper.”

If you love creepy movies and you love movies from the 1930s and early 1940s you will really enjoy this set! It's a really great set for getting in the spirit of Halloween! I also enjoyed that these movies had an element of film noir to them. I am very happy with this purchase!

As a fan of classic Universal monster & horror flicks, this set offers several gems that have been unavailable on DVD for a while. While they're not in the top-tier of Universal's classic horror films, they're still great fun and feature a few veterans of the genre, including Lionel Atwill, George Zucco, Evelyn Ankers, Rondo Hatton, and others. The best of these movies are arguably MURDERS IN THE ZOO (which stars Lionel Atwill and Randolph Scott), and THE MAD GHOUL (with George Zucco & David Bruce). The DVD set offers good transfers of each film, with clear picture and audio quality. A must for fans of the classic Universal horror films of the '40s.

I had to return my first set, due to a manufacturer's defect (my first set exhibited some pixelation/distortion in one scene on THE MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET). However, TCM Shop promptly provided me with a replacement copy and the best customer service I've had when it comes to DVD purchases online or at any retail store. I should note that the replacement copy, was *defect-free*, and played great.

Again, I cannot properly express my gratitude and satisfaction for the exceptional customer service I received from TCM Shop. Thanks again!